russia has launched a full-scale war in Ukraine! Donate to the charity fund to support Ukraine and protect the world’s peace.

Support Ukraine

logo

Headway App

(81,672)

FREE - on the App Store

INSTALL NOW
library / 
book

Summary of Irresistible 

4.5 . 1417 reviews

Short summary

Behavioral addiction has become rampant in our society today. Most of us are addicted to at least one behavior. We are addicted to the Internet. We spend hours playing games online, binge-watching TV, checking our work emails, watching Tik Toks, and obsessing over our Instagram likes and views. There are hardly any of us that can go a week without a smartphone. Most people would rather suffer physical harm than have their phones taken from them for an extended period. In this bite-sized book, renowned author and professor of psychology Adam Alter shares his research on addictive behaviors, a troubling phenomenon of modern times. Alter explains the upward trend of child and adult addictive behaviors, examining how they started, how they are designed, the psychological tricks technological designers employ to make us addicts, and strategies to adopt to minimize dangerous behavioral addictions. “Addiction originally meant a different kind of strong connection: in ancient Rome, being addicted meant you had just been sentenced to slavery.” ~ Adam Alter

Table of content

  • Summary of Irresistible
  • About the author
  • What is Irresistible about?
  • Who should read Irresistible
  • Topics in Irresistible
first key point

The biased societal stigmatization of addicts and why it’s unfair

Listen the first key point
00:00
00:00
Our understanding of addiction is too narrow because we tend to think of addiction as only experienced by certain people — those we label as addicts. This label implies that they are different from the rest of us. They may one day rise above their addictions, but for now, they belong in this category. In truth, addiction is primarily produced by the environment and circumstances.
Addictive behaviors have existed for a long time, but they’ve become more common, harder to resist, and more mainstream in recent years.
New addictions don’t involve the direct introduction of chemicals into the body system, but they produce the same effects because they are irresistible and well-designed. Addictions like gambling and exercise are old, and some are relatively new, like binge-viewing and smartphone use. But they have all become progressively more challenging to resist.

The societal definition of addicts is based on one school of thought that depicts addictions are meant for those labeled as “addicts or junkies.” This stigma placed on these certain sets of people automatically distinguishes them from society at large. Addiction is generally caused by environmental factors, genetic factors, and repetitive exposure.
Nobody is immune to addiction. Everyone is one step away from one behavioral addiction or another.
Addiction has been in existence from the onset, but it has become more prominent and profound in recent times.

Indeed, behavioral addictions and substance addictions are very similar. They activate the same brain chemicals and are ignited by the same needs, such as societal relevance, mental stimulation, and confidence boost. If these needs are stripped away from people, they’re more likely to develop behavioral and substance addictions.

Throughout this summary, we will address how to coexist with addictive activities that form our everyday lives without allowing them to take over. We will discover how to recognize addictive behaviors and mitigate their effects on happiness and wellbeing.
second key point

The birth of behavioral addictions has created a common problem

A modern societal definition of “addiction” stigmatizes addiction as a very bad character. Behavior is only said to be harmful and addictive if it causes extreme disruption and negative effects on a person’s life or those around them.
book
Continue reading with Headway app
Continue reading
Full summary is waiting for you in the app
third key point

The mechanism of behavioral addictions and how it affects you

fourth key point

The ingredients of behavioral addiction are quite surprising

fifth key point

Nipping addictions at birth is vital for the health and wellbeing of children

sixth key point

Behavioral patterns and configuration explained

seventh key point

Conclusion

Buy full book on AmazonContinue the summary

What is Irresistible about?

Who should read Irresistible

book
book

Enjoy summarized nonfiction bestsellers

Grasp the book’s key ideas in less than 15 minutes

Get started

Get new knowledge easily

Let’s check how many titles you can finish in a month with Headway! Tell us how much time you’d like to spend on reading:

2 min/day
5 min/day
10 min/day
15 min/day
20 min/day
30 min/day
45 min/day
4 titles/month
10 titles/month
20 titles/month
30 titles/month
40 titles/month
60 titles/month
90 titles/month
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
4 titles/month
10 titles/month
20 titles/month
30 titles/month
40 titles/month
60 titles/month
90 titles/month
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image

Join 30+ million learners around the world

60K5 reviews on App Store and Google Play
icon

Everything you need to be motivate, to learn & to self improves is all here. I actually do appreciate the reminders because otherwise this wouldn’t work for me. Thank you

icon

sandypantalones

icon

Headway is the answer! No longer accumulating books I never read. With Headway, I initially chose the areas important to me such as productivity, time management, etc., and each day I'm provided several book summaries from which I devote 20 minutes or more each day reading. All of this on my phone! My life has improved with Headway. Truly my most useful app.

icon

Carol Slinker

icon

An excellent concept, executed well. Headway can help you retain what you've read while introducing you to the essential core of new information. It's an easier way to stay inspired, and to be reminded of the mental tools you've learned

icon

Fuse Henry

icon

In today’s world, we rarely have time. Between our jobs, our families are social obligations, when do we have time to grow and develop ourselves? Headway is an excellent app that gives you that time it gives you those little snippets of information that you need to direct your focus in on your life. Headway gives you a chance to find out the meat of a book that you might want to purchase and read or listen to in-depth without wasting a lot of time trying to figure out is this book for me? I highly recommend the app.

icon

sleepy sprite

icon

The selections are on point and the summaries are excellent! I listen while I walk my pup 🐶 and have in turn, ordered a few selections! REALLY loving the app, it’s layout, daily selections and features!

icon

JuicyBaby328

icon

I've gotten multiple books out of the library with the intent to read them, but always have a hard time finding the time. This app has helped me finally be able to get to them. Summarized, yes, and thank goodness too! Just short enough I can finish one on my way picking kids up from school/practice, or while I'm cooking dinner. I can't wait to listen to them over the summer when we visit the beach!

icon

Jillian Emmert

icon

It amazed me! There is the possibility to highlight the most important points of each book and instantly translate unfamiliar vocabulary. With the ability to review the searched words. It's a great way to learn more about English as well. The price is great.

icon

Fiamma

icon

I’m enjoying what I’m learning on headway.each summary comes with quotes at the end which you can save to help you remember key points. You can listen or read, I’ve found that reading puts me to sleep before I can finish but the listening feature keeps me engaged and I can finish in a brief amount of time if not one session.

icon

Epic waters

icon

The app it’s so easy to use. I use it while driving or cooking and is great. I love the fact that the chapters are short, so you can finish them quickly. Very knowledgeable.

icon

kathytaveras

icon

The best app for self development.It helps to keep pace with your reading and also suggests the kind of reading material you might like.It is fun as you can switch from reading to listening and vice-versa as per your convenience .Just get started and partake of the treasure of knowledge at your fingertips .I feel lucky to have spotted the app.It has helped me become self-disciplined and much better informed.The audio track is excellent.

icon

anita yadav

icon

Exactly what I need! I always have booklist to read, but can't committed enough to finish/start bc of too much pages. Headway is really helpful and concise with their summary. What I love the most is that the essence of the book is well crafted, so I don't only read the key points, but also there's the story and how personality of the author still well shown through the summary. Well done!

icon

Feninda Amalia

icon

This is outstanding best app ever and honestly whoever came up with is my app is an absolute genius kudos my gratitude definitely goes out and I’m only on my first week free trial and I’m certainly going to purchase this app annually. Now that I have it, I can’t even imagine living without it.

icon

Darlin NIKKIDOLL0923

Have questions?

Asking the right questions brings you closer to achieving your goals

Can I test out Headway before purchasing it for my team?Payment

Sure, we will gladly give you access to our app for a certain period if you are interested in purchasing a corporate subscription for your team. Please fill out the form on the website or email partners@makeheadway.com. We will get back to you soon.

What should I do if some of my employees already have your Premium subscription?Payment

Sure, we will gladly give you access to our app for a certain period if you are interested in purchasing a corporate subscription for your team. Please fill out the form on the website or email partners@makeheadway.com. We will get back to you soon.

Can I increase or decrease the number of subscriptions on my corporate subscription once it’s started?Payment

Sure, we will gladly give you access to our app for a certain period if you are interested in purchasing a corporate subscription for your team. Please fill out the form on the website or email partners@makeheadway.com. We will get back to you soon.

What are the benefits of books summary?

Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.

Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.